Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enclosing a palletized container of fresh containers of perishables inside a modified atmosphere-containing plastic bag/enclosure stretched over the containers and over upwardly-folded and sealed margins of a plastic sheet placed between the pallet and the containers to seal the containers of perishables inside the bag/enclosure and to facilitate forming and maintaining a modified atmosphere inside the bag/enclosure.

Abstract: A system adapted for removable placement in a security enclosure fitted into the wall of a refrigerated container for respiring perishables, and for monitoring and controlling, continuously and dynamically, over a programmed, desired time, the concentration of oxygen, and the concentration of dioxide, in such a container atmosphere where the concentrations of these gases vary over time as the perishables respire, includes devices for sensing, separately, the concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the container atmosphere, devices for establishing setpoints or desired values of oxygen and carbon dioxide atmospheric concentration within the container, and for changing those setpoints, over time, depending on the nature of the perishable and other variables, and for maintaining the atmospheric concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide at desired setpoints for desired programmed times by admitting outside air into the container, as a source of oxygen, and by scrubbing to remove carbon dioxide, as necess

Abstract: A method for determining and controlling the proper modified or unmodified atmosphere packaging for cut or uncut respiring perishables such as cauliflower, lettuce and broccoli includes the steps of determining the respiration rate of the respiring perishable, preparing a plurality of packages containing the respiring perishable with each package having a different permeant factor, determining a value called atmosphere quotient for each of the packages according to this formula: atmosphere quotient equals permeant factor divided by respiration rate; subjecting each of the packages to known conditions of temperature and pressure over a known period of time and correlating the subjective and objective indicia of quality, appearance and marketability of the respiring perishable from each package to the atmosphere quotient values determined according to the foregoing formula, and then varying one or more of the values of the components that affect permeant factor to achieve and maintain the optimum value or range

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for sealing pallets of fresh produce inside plastic bags and furnishing the interiors of the sealed bags with a modified gaseous atmosphere. Conventional pallets loaded with cooled fresh produce are moved one at a time to an in-line squeeze station. The produce load of a pallet positioned at the squeeze station is squeezed between opposed vertical walls to suspend it above the pallet base as a downwardly movable floorplate descends to allow the deposition of a plastic sheet lining on the pallet. The floorplate is raised to its former level to bear the weight of the loaded pallet as the produce load is unsqueezed and the loaded pallet is moved by conveyor to a bagging station.

Abstract: Subdivided produce is washed, before cooling, in water containing an oxidizing agent at a sufficiently high temperature and for a time sufficient to remove deterioration-causing agents. Thereafter, the subdivided, washed produce is cooled with cool, humidified air that passes over, through and around the produce to reduce its temperature below 40.degree. F.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for sealing pallets of fresh product inside plastic bags and finishing the interiors of the sealed bags with a modified gaseous atmosphere. Conventional pallets loaded with cooled fresh produce are moved by an input conveyor automatically one at a time to an in-line squeeze station. A plastic bag at a convenient height is initially draped over an arm radiating from a novel bagger frame. A plurality of such arms extend from a rotatable hub so that bags can be moved into position above successive loaded pallets as they are needed. This apparatus permits the bagging of nearly twice as many pallets in a given time period.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for sealing pallets of fresh produce inside plastic bags and furnishing the interiors of the sealed bags with a modified gaseous atmosphere. Conventional pallets loaded with cooled fresh produce are moved by an input conveyor automatically one at a time to an in-line squeeze station. The produce load of a pallet positioned at the squeeze station is squeezed between opposed vertical walls to suspend it above the pallet base as a downwardly movable floorplate descends to allow the base to the removed and replaced with a pallet having a plastic sheet lining attached thereto. The floorplate is raised to its former level to bear the weight of the loaded pallet as the pallet is unsqueezed and the loaded pallet is moved by conveyor to a bagging station. A plastic bag at a convenient height is initially draped over an arm radiating from a novel bagger frame.

Abstract: A method of transporting a quantity of a comestible which may be subject to degradation as a result of respiration during transportation, comprising the steps of: (a) sealing or substantially sealing said quantity of the respiring comestible within a container as hereinbefore described sufficiently to ensure that less oxygen of the ambient air can diffuse into the container than is required for full respiration by the respiring comestible, flushing the container with an oxygen low or oxygen free gas so as to provide a reduced oxygen level in the sealed or substantially sealed container, such flushing occurring before, during and/or after said sealing or substantial sealing, and (b) transporting the container with the respiring comestible therein while (i) monitoring the oxygen level within said container and automatically adjusting the oxygen level as necessary by a positive infusion of ambient air into the container in response to such monitoring towards an optimum or predetermined value or range of values a

Abstract: Apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce include a mechanism for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing a substantial quantity of deteriorating-causing agents from the surface of the produce, a mechanism for conveying the subdivided produce along a linear path and for directing a flow of humidified cool air under pressure through the conveying means and the layer of the produce and at a temperature low enough to cool the washed produce as the subdivided produce is conveyed along the linear path.

Abstract: A system for providing and delivering a preservative gas such as carbon dioxide to an enclosure such as a palletized container for a perishable food product such as strawberries includes a mechanism for accumulating and temporarily storing a predetermined desired quantity of the preservative gas in gaseous state; adjustable, timer-controlled mechanism for withdrawing a predetermined, desired volume of air or other gases from the enclosure; adjustable, timer-controlled means for directing and delivering a predetermined, desired quantity of the preservative gas from storage to the enclosure; and a mechanism for temporarily preventing operation of the mechanism for withdrawing gases from, and for directing gases to the enclosure while the storage means is filling with preservative gas.

Abstract: Produce packages are stacked onto a pallet having an underlying gasproof plastic sheeting. The loaded pallet is placed on a rotatable table and a plastic bag is lowered over the produce which has its lower edges located partway down over the upturned portions of the plastic sheeting and onto the rim of the pallet. Two rolls of tape mounted at different heights on vertical spindles closely adjacent the table provide two tape strips with an edge portion overlapping. An idler roller joins the two strips of tape together in a single composite tape strip. The composite tape strip is applied by a pressure roller along the lower edge of the plastic bag and the pallet. After a full revolution of the table is completed, the tape is cut and the bag is completely sealed to the pallet. A lever arm on the pressure roller is spring-loaded to maintain the tape compressingly contacting the plastic bag and pallet throughout the full range of table rotation. Artificial gaseous environment is then provided to sealed container.

Abstract: Good color in fresh meat, fresh poultry, and fresh fish is established and maintained by subjecting such meat, poultry and fish to an atmosphere containing a low oxygen concentration to convert oxymyoglobin on the surface of the meat and poultry to reduced myoglobin, and both oxymyoglobin and oxyhemoglobin in fish to reduced myoglobin/hemoglobin, respectively, then subjecting the fresh meat, fresh poultry and fresh fish to a modified atmosphere containing a small amount of carbon monoxide to convert the reduced myoglobin to carboxymyoglobin to a depth of not more than about 0.375 inch below the surface of the meat and poultry, and to convert the reduced myoglobin/hemoglobin to reduced carboxymyoglobin/carboxyhemoglobin in the fish. The modified atmosphere is a new composition of matter.

Abstract: Modern refrigerated container ships have a hold in which insulated containers carrying perishable products are stacked and are connected to a source of cold air, which is circulated through the containers to cool the products. This system has disadvantages such as the dehydration of the products by the constant circulation of the cold air. The invention provides that the containers in such a conveyance are sealed and their interiors contain a modified atmosphere being cooled by circulation through a heat exchange unit which is sealed in the container and which receives cold air from the exterior source. The invention can analogously be applied to the warming of products.

Abstract: The growth of harmful fungi on fresh fruits and vegetables is inhibited by maintaining them in a modified atmosphere including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen.

Abstract: Modern refrigerated container ships have a hold in which insulated containers carrying perishable products are stacked and are connected to a source of cold air, which is circulated through the containers to cool the products. This system has disadvantages such as the dehydration of the products by the constant circulation of the cold air. The invention provides that the containers in such a conveyance are sealed and their interiors contain a modified atmosphere being cooled by circulation through a heat exchange unit which is sealed in the container and which receives cold air from the exterior source. The invention can analagously be applied to the warming of products.

Abstract: To extend their shelf life, certain vegetables are placed in enclosures that are at least as permeable to carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and oxygen as low density polyethylene that is not more than two mils thick, the atmosphere within the packages is modified to comprise at least about 25% oxygen by volume, at least about 3% carbon monoxide by volume, and the balance substantially all molecular nitrogen, and the packages are then sealed. The permeability should be sufficient to prevent the carbon dioxide concentration from rising much above 20% by volume, and to prevent the oxygen concentration from falling much below about 2% by volume.

Abstract: The storage life of citrus fruit, such as lemons, oranges and grapefruit, is extended and their resistance to deterioration upon exposure to air is improved by subjecting them to controlled or modified atmospheres (CA) consisting essentially of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxygen and nitrogen.